Can't write off Nepal in clash against hosts

Bangladesh look to continue good run in tournament to make Super 10

Nepal who has won four of its last five T20 matches, takes on Bangladesh.

Bangladesh takes on Nepal in the sixth match of the first round in a Group A clash at the ICC World Twenty20 2014 in Chittagong. With Bangladesh looking at extending its authority, and Nepal's confidence following its win in the first match, it promises to be an intriguing battle. Here's a look at the key battles, facts and much else:

Facts:

- Bangladesh’s victory against Afghanistan was its largest in T20Is in terms of balls remaining (48) and wickets (nine).

- Bangladesh has won six and lost three of its T20Is against ICC Associate members.

- Against Hong Kong Paras Khadka became the first player to hit 500 T20 runs for Nepal.

- Nepal has won four of its last five T20 matches.

- Anamul Haque has played all four of his T20Is in Bangladesh – he has scored 148 runs at an average of 49.3 in these matches.

Upcoming Milestones:

Bangladesh v Nepal

- Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan are in line to follow Mushfiqur Rahim as the only players to represent Bangladesh 30 times in T20Is.

- Shakib and Tamim need to put on 59 runs together to break Tamim and Mohammad Ashraful’s record of most aggregate T20I partnership runs for Bangladesh (275).

- Paras Khadka and Gyanendra Malla will become the first players to bat 20 times for Nepal in T20s if they reach the crease in this match.

- Shakti Gauchan needs three wickets to become the second player after Basant Regmi to take 25 T20 wickets for Nepal.

Key Battles:

Bangladesh v Nepal – Anamul Haque vs. Shakti Gauchan

Star player Shakib Al Hasan grabbed the headlines for his man-of-the-match display against Afghanistan, but Anamul Haque is quietly becoming Bangladesh’s most reliable limited overs batsman.

He warmed up for this event by hitting 100 and 49 against Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively in the Asia Cup and has taken this form into the shortest format of the game. His career strike rate of 138.3 is the highest of any Bangladesh player in this tournament, minimum 100 runs scored.

Shakti Gauchan claimed 3-9 against Hong Kong to earn the man-of-the-match award, which continued the slow left-armer’s rich vein of form. He now has 22 wickets in 19 T20 matches at an economy rate that would not be out of place in One-Day cricket: 5.4.